Grimes taking a run for Ward 2 alderman seat

Published: Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 05:57 PM.

Micah Grimes filed as a Board of Alderman candidate for Ward 2 Thursday, saying he wants to make a difference and bring change to his community.

Grimes, 30, of 2903 Mason Circle, said there are several issues he would like to address in Ward 2, the seat presently represented by Victor Taylor.

As a bail bondsman, Grimes said he has been able to network with many people in the community and knows most of the residents in Ward 2, many of whom encouraged him to run.

“I would like to see an increase in jobs,” Grimes said. “I would also like to work closely with the police community to see what I could do to help bring crime down. That might be ironic for a bail bondsman to say. But I would like to be more interactive to reduce crime.”

Grimes said, as a businessman, he wants to help get better control of the financial side of the city and provide more facilities for drug rehabilitation.

“As a bail bondsman, nine times out of 10 I have to post bond for someone who has committed a crime and those crimes usually stem from a need of jobs and because of drugs. I also am a mental health specialist and have some experience in job coaching. The more jobs we can get for individuals who are stuck in a rut will help the entire city.

“I’ve also been informed there are various housing projects in the works,” he said. “I want to see what can be done to bring more jobs in the community by people working on housing projects. That would bring more jobs in and increase our standard of living.”

Micah Grimes filed as a Board of Alderman candidate for Ward 2 Thursday, saying he wants to make a difference and bring change to his community.

Grimes, 30, of 2903 Mason Circle, said there are several issues he would like to address in Ward 2, the seat presently represented by Victor Taylor.

As a bail bondsman, Grimes said he has been able to network with many people in the community and knows most of the residents in Ward 2, many of whom encouraged him to run.

“I would like to see an increase in jobs,” Grimes said. “I would also like to work closely with the police community to see what I could do to help bring crime down. That might be ironic for a bail bondsman to say. But I would like to be more interactive to reduce crime.”

Grimes said, as a businessman, he wants to help get better control of the financial side of the city and provide more facilities for drug rehabilitation.

“As a bail bondsman, nine times out of 10 I have to post bond for someone who has committed a crime and those crimes usually stem from a need of jobs and because of drugs. I also am a mental health specialist and have some experience in job coaching. The more jobs we can get for individuals who are stuck in a rut will help the entire city.

“I’ve also been informed there are various housing projects in the works,” he said. “I want to see what can be done to bring more jobs in the community by people working on housing projects. That would bring more jobs in and increase our standard of living.”

Grimes said he plans to run a positive campaign, going door-to-door to get to know his possible future constituents.

Grimes, whose father is a bishop for the Undenominational Pentecostal Holiness Church in James City, served in the National Guard in New Bern and has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and criminology from Mount Olive College. He is the owner and operator of Grimes Bail Bonding and Notary Services at 1017 A Broad St.

Grimes and his wife Latasha have three daughters.

Eddie Fitzgerald can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at eddie.fitzgerald@newbernsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @staffwriter3.